Though this is the joyous Christmas season, it would still be easy for Republicans in Alaska to get discouraged. Liberal Democrats dominate state government and some of the GOP’s party peers work behind their backs to help the Democrats – like modern day Benedict Arnolds. Next year’s legislative election promises more of the same. This situation is metaphorically similar in some respects to the one faced by George Washington’s continental army in the winter of 1776, and perhaps Republicans should learn from his actions.
In December of 1776 Washington’s army at Valley Forge was in dire shape. Enthusiasm from the Declaration of Independence the previous summer had given way to the reality of fighting a winter war against the most powerful army in the world. In the previous months, General Washington had faced a series of defeats in battle, and his army had just completed a long retreat across New Jersey into Pennsylvania. Morale was at rock bottom, and they were ill-equipped for winter. Even worse, enlistments for most of his troops would expire on December 31, leaving him with no army left to fight with.
It was against this backdrop that General Washington made his most audacious move. He devised a plan to attack a British garrison by moving his army across the Delaware river on Christmas night, with an attack the next morning when enemy forces would be most vulnerable. This idea was fraught with risk. Should his move be discovered, the British could counterattack when Washington’s army was split with half on either side of the river. For Washington, he wagered the entire future of the revolution on one risky move that could not win the war for him but could have lost it.
A Republican needs to seize the initiative or lose the race due to inaction. One way to do this is by taking a position on some of the tough issues facing the state.
The plan turned out to be a success. Washington’s army surprised the enemy garrison and won the battle. While they captured a large supply of equipment and food that helped them through the winter, the victory at Trenton was not that important strategically. The big achievement was that the victory restored the morale of his troops, resulting in most of them choosing to remain in the army, and leading to two additional battle victories over the British later that winter. The turning point of the Revolution was Washington’s decision to go “All In” and fight a battle on Christmas day.
Here in Alaska, Republicans face similar challenges. Despite having a Republican governor and majorities in the State Legislature, conservatives are beset with the political equivalent of seven Benedict Arnolds. In the last legislative session, seven Republican caucus members turned coat and joined with the Democrats to form liberal governing coalitions in both state houses. On top of that, our timid Republican governor takes no action to further a conservative agenda.
This is a critical moment for Alaska’s GOP. Voters are questioning why they should support Republicans in the election next fall and may choose to stay home on election day. Voters have little reason to vote for a Republican if they simply hand governance to the Democrat party once down in Juneau. Republicans need to do something to inspire voters, similar to the bold action Washington was forced to take.
First, they should announce that every one of the seven political traitors will face a Republican sponsored primary challenger. The seven cheats need accountability. It is time for the Alaska GOP to rid themselves of the cancer of political traitors. If the feckless seven want to caucus with Democrats, let them change their party affiliation. Republican campaign committees should announce they are actively searching for reliable conservatives to run in opposition to them.
One of the seven in the state house, Louise Stutes, believes she deserves a promotion, having declared her candidacy for the senate seat in District C, which will be open with Gary Stevens’ retirement. In addition to finding someone to run for Stutes’ soon to be vacated seat in House District 5, Republicans need to find a reliable challenger to face Stutes in her senate race. The logical candidate would be current Representative Sarah Vance, but Vance isn’t revealing her plans. If she decides to remain in the House, she should say so, now, so the district 6 committee can find a strong viable candidate to oppose Stutes.
George Washington, like Julius Caesar 2,000 years before him, saw the need to cross the Rubicon to achieve a political objective. It is time for the Republicans to do the same.
Bold action is also needed in the governor’s race. It seems like every Alaskan with an “R” behind their name is running for governor, but the pack appears mired in mediocrity, with lots of good people running, but nobody wanting to take a bold step and assume the lead in the race. If a big name like Mary Peltola enters the race on the Democrat side, they will capture the news cycle and be the automatic frontrunner for governor. A Republican needs to seize the initiative or lose the race due to inaction. One way to do this is by taking a position on some of the tough issues facing the state. Here are a few positions they should consider. There are probably others.
— Commit to a balanced budget that contains the full statutory PFD amount for all Alaskans.
— Commit to appointing an Attorney General who opposes the unconstitutional Supreme Court Order 1993 and has a plan to restore grand jury rights for Alaskans.
— Call for an independent investigation of the Margaret Murphy Perjury case and commit to forcing a release of the grand jury report suppressed by Judge Thomas Matthews.
— Call for an independent investigation into Marla Greenstein, executive director of the Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct, for her alleged coverup of judicial malfeasance in Alaska.
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— Commit to drilling an exploration well on state leases in ANWR in the first year they are in office. This could be done in partnership with one of the operators currently working on the slope to minimize costs to the state.
These are just a few of the bold political positions someone running for governor could take. All they need is willpower.
George Washington, like Julius Caesar 2,000 years before him, saw the need to cross the Rubicon to achieve a political objective. It is time for the Republicans to do the same. They should remember the words written by Thomas Paine as he sat in winter camp with Washington’s army. Paine wrote, “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” Republicans need to take his words to heart and take bold action before it is too late.
I hope everyone enjoys a Merry Christmas with their family and a Happy New Year. See you in 2026.
The views expressed here are those of Greg Sarber. Read more Sarber posts at his Seward’s Folly substack.
